Dual focal plane reticles for optical sighting devices

Abstract

A dual focal plane optical sighting device, such as a riflescope, having two focal planes, with a first reticle at the first focal plane, and a second reticle at the second focal plane. The reticle at the first focal plane is a glass etched reticle; the reticle at the second focal plane is a wire reticle. The two reticles have different patterns or markings providing the appearance of a single reticle or complementary markings when viewed through the optical sighting device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical sighting device comprising:
 a body with a first end and a second end and having a center axis;   an objective lens system disposed within the body;   an eyepiece lens disposed within the body;   an erector lens system disposed within the body; the objective lens system, eyepiece lens, and erector lens system forming an optical system having a first focal plane and a second focal plane, the first focal plane proximate the objective lens system and the second focal plane proximate the eyepiece lens;   a first reticle at the first focal plane;   a second reticle at the second focal plane; and   the first reticle including at least one first marking;   the second reticle including at least one second marking; and   wherein the at least one first marking and the at least one second marking provide complementary markings creating the appearance of a single reticle when viewed along the center axis.   
     
     
         2 . The optical sighting device of  claim 1 , wherein the first reticle is a glass etched reticle. 
     
     
         3 . The optical sighting device of  claim 1 , wherein the second reticle is a wire reticle. 
     
     
         4 . The optical sighting device of  claim 2  wherein the first reticle includes at least one subtension marking. 
     
     
         5 . The optical sighting device of  claim 2  wherein the first reticle includes mil dot markings. 
     
     
         6 . The optical sighting device of  claim 3 , wherein the second reticle includes at least one stadia line. 
     
     
         7 . The optical sighting device of  claim 1 , wherein the first reticle has a pattern of markings. 
     
     
         8 . The optical sighting device of  claim 1 , wherein the second reticle includes at least one target dot. 
     
     
         9 . The optical sighting device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one target dot is illuminated by an LED. 
     
     
         10 . The optical sighting device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one target dot comprises an optic fiber having a first end and a second end, wherein light enters the first end and illuminates the second end. 
     
     
         11 . The optical sighting device of  claim 10 , wherein the optic fiber includes a light collector at the first end. 
     
     
         12 . The optical sighting device of  claim 10 , wherein the second end includes an angled cut wherein the light reflects off of the angled cut. 
     
     
         13 . The optical sighting device of  claim 10 , wherein the optic fiber is aligned with and tracks along a stadia line. 
     
     
         14 . The optical sighting device of  claim 1 , wherein either the first reticle or the second reticle is a wire reticle. 
     
     
         15 . The optical sighting device of  claim 14 , wherein the second reticle is a wire reticle having at least one target dot illuminated by an LED, the target dot comprising an optic fiber having a first end and a second end, the first end including a light collector and the second end including an angled cut wherein the light from the LED passes through the optic fiber and reflects off of the angled cut. 
     
     
         16 . An optical sighting device comprising:
 a body with a first end and a second end and having a center axis;   an objective lens system disposed within the body;   an eyepiece lens disposed within the body;   an erector lens system disposed within the body; the objective lens system, eyepiece lens, and erector lens system forming an optical system having a first focal plane and a second focal plane, the first focal plane proximate the objective lens system and the second focal plane proximate the eyepiece lens;   a first reticle at the first focal plane;   a second reticle at the second focal plane;   the first reticle including at least one first marking;   the second reticle including at least one second marking;   wherein the at least one first marking and second marking do not overlap each other when viewed along the center axis; and   wherein the second reticle is a wire reticle.   
     
     
         17 . The optical sighting device of  claim 16 , wherein the second reticle has at least one target dot illuminated by an LED, the target dot comprising an optic fiber having a first end and a second end, the first end including a light collector and the second end including an angled cut wherein the light from the LED passes through the optic fiber and reflects off of the angled cut. 
     
     
         18 . The optical sighting device of  claim 17 , wherein the optic fiber is aligned with and tracks along a stadia line. 
     
     
         19 . An optical system for use in an optical sighting device, the optical system comprising: an objective
 lens system;   an erector system;   an eyepiece;   a glass etched reticle located at a first focal plane between the objective lens system and the erector system, the glass etched reticle having a marking pattern; a wire reticle at a second focal plane between the erector system and the eyepiece, the wire reticle including stadia lines;   wherein the marking pattern of the glass etched reticle appears to be superimposed on the stadia lines of the wire reticle when the reticles are viewed through the eyepiece.   
     
     
         20 . The optical system of  claim 19 , wherein the wire reticle at the second focal plane further comprises an illuminated feature.